Global Kids and HRAP are hosting an exciting panel discussion Wednesday, December 11th, 2013 honoring Human Rights Day. Global Kids Leaders will be moderating and participating in the panel! The panel will include Samrawit Hadgu, a Global Kids and Alliance for Climate Education youth climate activist. Food and Beverages to be served at the event.

GK students at William Cullen Bryant High School unveiled a brand new green roof at their Queens campus! This roof is part of HRAP's Green Roof on Schools campaign to build rooftop gardens on every school in New York City. Bryant held a ribbon cutting ceremony on November 4th, 2013 after months of campaigning.

<p>Global Kids students in the Human Rights Activist Project are thrilled to be hosting an intergenerational panel discussion on December 10, 2013 in honor of Human Rights Day. The topic of the panel is Exploring the Connections Between Human Rights and Climate Recovery. This event is free and open to the public. Details will be posted as they are

Latest Entries...

As part of the Sustainaware campaign, Global Kids and youth from the Connecticut Audubon Society composed this youth manifesto on sustainability:

We, the youth environmental activists of Connecticut, recognize the negative effects of climate change on all living organisms and the lack of environmental awareness in communities across the nation.

We firmly believe we are the generation that must make the vital changes needed to avoid the major irreversible consequences of climate change. Using our creativity and greater capacity for empathy we will stand united for change.

It is evident to us that to make the necessary changes we will need to both educate and empower the people, especially the frontline communities. Accurate environmental education must be available to all, and mandatory in our schools’ curriculum. Environmental justice must be essential in our school systems.

In addition, we demand more outlets and organizations in each state to support youth environmental activists. This country must create and promote more programs that promote more programs that incorporate green practices that engage the community in green upkeep.

Climate change is important because it affects our everyday lives. Melting glaciers, rising sea levels, and extreme weather are becoming the norm of our lives. In our current global situation, it can be seen with our very own eyes, that our world is falling apart. Day after day, climate change is not only affecting humans but all life on Earth. We are not taking care of our planet the way we should be. However, the people most affected by it are often not aware of how detrimental it is. Developing nations are paying the price for the injustices done by the more But who are those that will be MOST affected by the effects of climate change? The youth.

As the future leaders and caretakers of this planet, the youth will have to face the worst which is yet to come.

Fossil fuel companies and climate change deniers are aware of their actions but continue to heedlessly do as they please. They are polluting our planet and making life more difficult for future generations.

The youth need to have a say in what is happening today. We cannot afford to deal with this tomorrow because this is a NOW problem. People need to know what is happening to the planet they call home. An article by NovaNext stated that the more people are educated on climate change, the more likely they are to believe it, as opposed to those who do not believe and are not educated on it. Yet students in some states, such as Wyoming and West Virginia, are being taught that climate change either does not exist or is not human made.

In the 2013-2014 school year, HRAP students continued to build on their climate change work focusing on the issue of climate change education. HRAP students wrote a petition mandating climate education for all New York City students. They collected over 3,000 written and online signatures. This work led up to a rally at New York City Hall in June 2014, which was attended by partners Alliance for Climate Education and New York City Council Members Costa Constantinides and Donovan Richards, among many other supporters.

Through a colloborative process with GK Leaders, Council Member Constantinides introduced into New York City Council chambers Resolution 0375-2014 calling for climate change education in all New York City school.

I my name is Samrawit Hadgu and I am a Junior at Curtis High School. I have been in Global Kids for three years now. Freshman year I became really active with the Global Kids site at my school. When my GK trainers, Ranti and Justin, first told me about the Human Rights Activist Project I knew that was the program I most definitly had to be a part of. Since then Molly has inspired and encouraged me to be an active leader. It is a treat to be able to travel with Forhad and Jatnna for SustainAware-Slovenia 2014. The first time I travel with them Forhad blew me away with his perspective on educational reform at the Free Minds Free People conference in Chicago and Jatnna pushed me to be more vocal at the Power Shift Conference in Pittsburgh.

SustainAware Slovenia Pre-Departure

I still can't explain how excited I am for our trip though I'm sitting on the plane now, writing this. I'm so honored to be apart of SustainAware and represent Global Kids on this trip. I am really looking forward to the local days of action. I am interested in learning more about the issues the other organizations are working. I am most excited to meet with other SustainAware participants and learn about the work they do. I also look forward to our beautiful stay by the coast of Izola, Slovenia.

My name is Forhad. I’m a Junior at Long Island city high school and I’ve been involved with global kids for about a year and a half now. In that time, I’ve worked on the Green Roof project and we’ve successfully managed to get a green roof on Bryant high school. That was quite an experience, having to facilitate workshops with both adults and youth. Pitching our ideas to Principals and teachers and other such officials. Besides that, working to promote knowledge about climate change has been quite a rewarding experience as well.

About HRAP

The Global Kids Human Rights Activist Project (HRAP) addresses the current absence of youth voices in the public policy decision-making process and trains youth to become human rights activists. Students identify and research human rights issues and develop a campaign for social change, which includes public outreach, direct action, media strategies, meeting with elected officials, and networking with other organizers.

About Global Kids

Global Kids, Inc. - the premier non-profit educational organization for global learning and youth development - works to ensure that youth from underserved communities have the knowledge, skills, experiences and values they need to succeed in school, participate effectively in the democratic process, and achieve leadership in their communities and on the global stage.